Have a discussion with your team or reflect on the questions.
Discussion Questions:
As humans, we tend to discount the value of future rewards. Think of a time when you may have let instant gratification get in the way of a long-term goal. What could you have done differently?
Willpower tends to be fragile, which is why 25% of New Year's resolutions dissolve during the first week. Other emotions such as gratitude, compassion and pride offer a more resilient path to self-control. Why is this?
Take away:
Self-control, or the ability to postpone a short-term reward in favor of a higher future payoff, is a definitive gauge of success. Subjects who can resist instant gratification tend to fare better academically, professionally, socially and financially. The cognitive path to self-control has several shortcomings. It is weak, biased, and potentially harmful.
“The power of emotions enhancing self-control works because it’s not coming from the top down. It’s not trying to overrule or overcome a desire that we have.”
David DeSteno Speaker– Emotional Intelligence for Success
